Waste offenders warned not to throw their money away

Fly-tippers and litterers who ignored fixed penalty notices have been handed much larger fines after a series of successful prosecutions.

Rubbish dumped at the rear of Welmsley Grove, Bolton

Bolton Magistrates’ Court found against three defendants who failed to pay on the spot fines, costing each of them several hundred pounds more in additional charges and court costs.

In January, council enforcement officers discovered two bags full of polystyrene packaging dumped in a back alley near Clarke Street, Bolton.

A trail of polystyrene balls led the team to the home of Annalise Foulkes where she was issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice.

After failing to pay, Foulkes, 21, of Clarke Street was fined £440 by magistrates on top of £271 in costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

In February, officers tracked down Richard Kovacs, 26, of Welmsley Grove, Bolton after he dumped bags of household waste in the street at the back of his home. He admitted the offence but failed to pay the £80 fine he was issued.

Magistrates fined him £440 and ordered him to pay £430 in costs and a £44 victim surcharge.

Sarah Jane Molyneux, 61, of Vernon Street, Bolton was given an extension to pay the £80 fine she was issued for littering in the town centre, but still failed to pay on time.

The court ordered her to pay a £440 fine, £100 in costs and a £44 surcharge.

Bolton Council issues fixed penalty notices for offences including fly-tipping, dog fouling and littering. Offenders have 14 days to pay and money raised is ringfenced to cover the cost of keeping streets and public spaces clean.